The Jamaican electorate is being urged by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to choose his Government’s housing policies over the Opposition’s when they go to the polls, even as he acknowledged the ongoing housing crisis that has been overwhelming middle- and low-income earners.
Holness, who was speaking during a ceremony held to hand over keys to homeowners of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ)-built Edmund Ridge Estates, said his Government, more than previous administrations, understands what it takes to deliver sound units.
“Our housing policy is thoughtful. Our housing policy is not just aspirational, but it is practical and realistic. If you really want a house, then this is the housing policy to support. The policy that is comprehensive. The policy that understands the challenges, and the policy that is consistent,” said Holness.
In the same breath, he criticised the Mark Golding-led People’s National Party (PNP) and its promise to resolve the decades-old issue, asserting that nothing credible has been presented to prove the party can do so.
Further, he said the Opposition’s housing policy will amount to another Operation Pride, a programme launched by former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as a solution to the then growing problem of squatting.
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Holness said what low-income earners received were half-finished housing schemes, lands without titles, and settlements without the necessary infrastructure.
“This administration is not going to leave any development incomplete or unfinished. We’re not going to put people into housing solutions that turn out to be a nightmare for them. No, what we have done here is to build housing that will create an asset for you,” said the prime minister.
‘Serious housing gap’
At the same time, he said the need for houses continues to outpace the number being built now, noting there is a “serious housing gap” of approximately 150,000 housing units.
“You get a sense of the housing gap, as the chairman of the HAJ pointed out when he advertised 140 housing units and 600 persons turned up,” Holness said, adding that a similar advertisement of 1,600 units attracted 11,000 applicants.
He said the demand for housing has increased significantly because of poor economic conditions spanning three to four decades and a lack of skills to develop megaprojects.
The prime minister said the country’s contractor pool must be developed to take on major projects.
“Announcing 739 units may sound like a lot, but 739 units compared to the 70,000 that we need to construct, compared to the actual 150,000 that we need to solve the problem, is small. Even the 19,575 that the NHT (National Housing Trust) is going through the process with, that’s small relative to the big problem,” said Holness.
He said housing projects built in the region of 5,000 to 10,000 at one time is what is required to tackle the issue and make significant progress.
He said until this is done and demands are met, the cost for houses will not stabilise nor be reduced.
“Don’t believe the people who come to you and tell you, ‘Yes, we can solve the problem and we’ll sell you a horse that can’t fly’. There are certain realities that we have to consider,” said Holness.
He said a “great” part of the HAJ’s budget is spent on correcting housing developments undertaken by previous administrations, pointing to a housing scheme in St Mary, where, he claimed, the NHT has had to spend over $1 billion to build the infrastructure, after residents were told to build there by the previous administration.
“But yet they come and talk about what they going to do for housing. Tell us how you [are] going to correct the problems that you created with your former policies,” he said, stressing that the Government will continue to put on display what it has been doing in the housing sector.
“… We have to put it in their face to let them know that this administration is the difference in housing. This administration has the plan for housing but, more than that, it is this administration that can consistently deliver housing for you,” said Holness.
kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com
